Groomsmen: If the groomsmen are from out of town, they may be requested to pay for their own transportation to the wedding and for their lodging while there.
On the wedding day, the groomsmen may be asked to serve as ushers, seating the guests before the ceremony. If they are not ushering, they should stay with the groom and best man after the pictures are completed, out of sight of the arriving guests. It is tempting to mingle with the guests, but don’t give in to temptation. Everyone can mingle at the reception.
Groomsmen act as escorts for the bridesmaids and stand near the best man during the wedding ceremony. They should attend the reception and remain in their tuxedoes for a reasonable length of time before changing, preferably until most of the guests have left. After changing, their tuxedos should be given to the best man, or another designated individual, who will see that the tuxes are returned to the rental shop. (If the groomsmen each paid for the rental of his tux, rather than the groom, it is their responsibility to return them, not the best man’s.)
The groomsmen should help with clean-up and removal of decorations after the reception, if requested to do so. If the ceremony and reception are being held at the same location, the groomsmen may be asked to move chairs from one area to another, set up tables, and do anything else needed to quickly prepare for the reception. Groomsmen do not stand in a receiving line at the reception.
Bridesmaids: The bridesmaids may be asked to pay for their dresses and shoes and hair styling, unless the bride indicates otherwise. They may also need to pay for transportation and lodging if they come from out of town.
During the ceremony, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle, either alone or with a groomsman, and before the maid/matron of honor. After the ceremony, they will be escorted by a groomsman as they follow the maid/matron of honor and best man out. They then proceed to the reception site as quickly as possible. They should plan on remaining at the reception until most of the guests have left before they leave or change out of their wedding clothes. If their help is needed, they should assist with clean-up and removal of decorations after the reception. The bridesmaids do not stand in a receiving line if one is held.
One or more of the bridesmaids may host a bridal shower if they would like to, but they do not have to if they can’t afford to or they live out of the area. Bridesmaids and the maid of honor may host a shower together if they would like to. Bridesmaids may also be involved in planning and paying for the bachelorette party.
-© 2006 Glenna Tooman, Memory Makers Event Planning, LLC; all rights reserved